In Turkey, privately, Haldun Firat Körtürk is a fan of Galatasaray. But now, publicly, the general director of Limak Construction is absolutely focused on the success of the reform of the Spotify Camp Nou.
Wouldn’t it have been more logical to start by building stadiums in Türkiye?
We already did. We built the Mersin Olympic Stadium and we did it in record time. It is a stadium for 25.00 spectators. It’s not too big but we built it in 134 days. As? The Mediterranean Games were from Greece but due to the financial crisis the country went bankrupt and resigned. The Turkish government decided to take responsibility and they sought us out because of our reputation for fast completion of works.
Not one more? The Atatürk Stadium, site of the Champions League final, was renovated.
It was not ethical. Nihat Özdemir, founder of the company, was president of the Federation and the first thing he told us was: “You cannot participate in specific sports issues. I’m here and it wouldn’t be right.” He is a different person, his reputation is more important to him than a business.
Did you have any previous relationship with President Laporta?
For my part, I only saw Laporta at the contract signing ceremony. As the boss of Turkish football, Nihat had to be in the box at Nef Stadium when Barcelona faced Galatasaray last year and they probably shook hands. But they didn’t even have a little conversation.
When did you start working on this project? Some say they only had three months.
Not at all. We started last year around this time. The club chose six large companies: three Spanish, one French, one Belgian and one Turkish. The six of us started a competition. It is not just a financial proposal. A large part of the project is the technical proportion due to time constraints and the complexity of the stadium as two levels need to be renovated and the third tier to be demolished. We worked through the end of the year, so it was about nine months of efforts just for the bidding period. After the negotiation.
Do you understand the commotion that your election has caused?
These six companies know us quite well. We are partners in some projects and competitors in different regions… Construction companies are more reasonable. We know that we all bid for 100 projects and they give you 5, maximum 10. It happens to all of us, to Ferrovial, to Acciona… We are used to this type of attack. We knew Barcelona is something different, which is why we were so persistent in getting this job even though it’s not our biggest financial project, like the $6 billion Kuwait airport or the $3 billion Çanakkale bridge. . The Spotify Camp Nou will be 960 million. But, in my opinion, this is the most important project of our company.
Do you detect a point of superiority towards you?
No, we personally don’t see any of that. As a company we want to be recognized with our work. There may be a bias as to why the Turks come to build this. But the client has two priorities, one is the completion time and the other is the budget.
You were the cheapest and the fastest. How do they do that?
It’s no secret. In the risk assessment we were more aggressive because, as I said, this project is quite important to us. It can be an opening to the Latin American market. That’s why I talked to my shareholders and told them that profits were not the priority. Sure we’ll make a profit but our profit margin won’t be that high. Second, we are a versatile company. I usually set most prices for raw materials in advance. I told the suppliers: ‘Until August 2023, if I sign the contract you have no option to change the prices.’
And the speed?
We invest a lot in equipment. Most of the equipment is own. It may not be very common in Spain but in our country and in the Middle East if you don’t have your teams you can’t be competitive. We have huge cranes that are unique in the world and if you want to buy them now you have to wait two years. We have six and they have already completed their part at the Kuwait airport.
It seems that he sees it as easy.
I’ll be honest with you, the stadiums are not very complex. The skyscrapers are more difficult because there is a sequence where you can’t build the top without the bottom, but the stadium is a 900 meter perimeter where you can work in different places at the same time. We will place the six cranes outside. They measure 85 meters and will cover the entire stadium without interference.
Will you hire labor?
We will hire about a thousand people. 70% will be from here and 30% from abroad. We are looking for hotels to install them.
One million euros for each day of delay. Do you have to be very sure to sign something like that?
The clauses that must be fulfilled. But at the end of it all, if we don’t believe we can do it, why would I bet on this project? I think we can make it on time. And I can say that these 46 years we have never faced any penalty for delay. We accepted the Cairo airport project a month after the Arab spring. There was no government there. It was a major cause to quit. We opened it in 2017. I have never left a job unfinished.
The Camp Nou has lasted 66 years. How long do you think the new Spotify Camp Nou will last?
I can say that there will be no need to touch it in the next 35 years. Then it will have to be adapted to the times because the world moves very fast.
Barcelona will be able to return to the Estadi for its 125th anniversary. Do you promise?
That is our agreement. It is one of the milestones. They will start playing there and the work will continue. The key is that the stadium will be completed and while it will continue to operate.
If the calendar is fulfilled, who will be happier, Limak or Barcelona?
Both. We will have the credit that we have completed it without penalties and Barça will be happy to have their own stadium at full capacity. This business doesn’t work if one of the parties is not happy.
Real Madrid is also remodeling the Bernabéu and has an advantage. Something to say?
When it is finished, Barcelona fans will be proud of the stadium. It will be like the Jerusalem of sports for Christians. Everyone will want to visit it.
